Excretion of Volatile Organic Compounds Up in Teen E-Smokers

MONDAY, March 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Adolescents smoking electronic-cigarettes (e-cigarettes) only have significantly higher excretion of volatile organic chemical compounds than non-smokers, although the levels are lower than among those using cigarettes in addition to e-cigarettes, according to a study published online March 5 in Pediatrics.

Mark L. Rubinstein, M.D., from the University of California in San Francisco, and colleagues examined the presence of chemical toxicants associated with e-cigarette use among adolescents (average age, 16.4 years). Adolescent e-cigarette users were divided into e-cigarette-only users (no cigarettes in past 30 days; 67 participants), dual users (use of cigarettes in addition to e-cigarettes in past 30 days; 16 participants), and never-using controls (20 participants). Saliva was obtained within the past 24 hours of e-cigarette use and urine was collected for analysis of 4-[methylnitrosamino]-1-[3-pyridyl]-1-butanol and eight volatile organic chemical compounds.

"Messaging to teenagers should include warnings about the potential risk from toxic exposure to carcinogenic compounds generated by these products," the authors write.

Several authors disclosed financial ties to companies that market medications to aid smoking cessation and manufacture tobacco cessation devices; one author has served as a paid expert witness in litigation against tobacco companies.